3 Key Takeaways:
- Ear seeding may offer temporary de-puffing, but lacks evidence for facial contouring.
While it’s rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and may help with issues like stress or sleep, it doesn’t target fat, muscles, or skin laxity required for real contouring. - Influencer claims are mostly anecdotal and misleading.
Before/after photos often rely on lighting, angles, or temporary and subtle improvements, which are not true structural facial changes. - Clinically backed aesthetic treatments provide real, lasting results.
Non-surgical procedures like Ultherapy PRIME, RF microneedling, botulinum toxin, and dermal fillers are proven to lift, tighten, and contour the face safely and effectively.
Ear seeding, which is a form of acupressure based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is gaining popularity on TikTok and social media. While originally used to treat (and prevent) anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain and nausea, influencers are claiming that it can lift your jawline and depuff or “snatch” your face.
But what is ear seeding exactly? Continue reading as our aesthetic clinic in Singapore explores why it’s being used for facial contouring and what the evidence says. We also share a few things you should know if you’re thinking of trying it and what to consider if you’re looking for real, noticeable facial contouring results.
What is ear seeding?
Also known as ear needling or ear acupuncture, ear seeding is a practice derived from the principles of auricular acupuncture or auricular acupressure. This refers to stimulating different points of the ear to influence particular organs or bodily functions used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Instead of needles (as in traditional acupuncture), ear seeding actually uses small beads or seeds (made from plant or other materials) that are attached to adhesive stickers or plasters. These are then placed on specific points of the ear to stimulate those acupoints via pressure.
In TCM, the ear is considered a “microsystem” of the body, wherein the shape of the ear is said to map organs, muscles, nervous system pathways. Stimulating these points is thought to influence different bodily processes and treat a wide range of conditions, including pain, anxiety, insomnia, infertility, substance abuse, and weight issues.
What do studies say
While scientific research on ear seeding is limited, some small studies suggest it may help with conditions like pain, anxiety, and insomnia, especially when used alongside other treatments. More large-scale, high-quality studies, however, are needed to confirm these potential benefits.
Ear seeding is generally considered a safe form of acupressure, but correct placement is important. It’s best to consult a trained professional rather than relying on social media trends or unfounded claims. And if you don’t have a specific issue to treat, there may be no real benefit to using it.
Why influencers are using it for facial contouring
On social media, ear seeding is a non-invasive beauty trend that is said to reduce puffiness and define your jawline. Many are sharing before/after transformation, showing one side of the ear with seeds and other without them. The result, they say, is less puffiness and a tighter jawline.
This beauty trend taps into the “snatched jawline” aesthetic or the wish for a defined lower face and less “puffy” or bloated appearance. And the idea of using a simple, at-home trick is so appealing, as it doesn’t require needles, longer downtime, and a higher cost that often come with professional procedures.
Why ear seeding doesn’t really work for facial contouring
While many influencers are calling ear seeding a hack for “natural facelift”, the truth is it won’t deliver dramatic facial contouring results. Here’s why:
- No impact on facial muscles or fat
Real facial contouring involves changes to muscle, fat, or skin laxity. Simulating specific points on the ear cannot alter any of the things mentioned. It doesn’t directly affect:
- Skin firmness (like collagen-boosting lasers or microneedling)
- Facial muscle contractions (like botulinum toxin does)
- Subcutaneous fat (like RF or ultrasound contouring treatments)
- Limited evidence for cosmetic effects
While ear acupuncture and acupressure are supported by some studies for pain relief, anxiety reduction, or even sleep management, there is little to no peer-reviewed research showing significant cosmetic or contouring effects.
Claims of jawline slimming or cheek de-puffing are mostly:
- Anecdotal
- Based on temporary fluid shifts (like lymphatic drainage)
- Influenced by lighting, posture, and angle tricks in before/after photos
- De-puffing is not the same as contouring
Ear seeding is thought to work because it can help with de-puffing the face, particularly when combined with massage or lymphatic drainage techniques. While it is true that reduced puffiness can make the face look slightly more defined, this is not the same as contouring or lifting.
Real facial contouring or lifting usually involves:
- Muscle relaxation (e.g., botulinum toxin)
- Volume enhancement (e.g., dermal fillers)
- Skin tightening (e.g., Ultherapy, RF)
- Fat sculpting (e.g., injectables or energy-based devices)
Ear seeds don’t shift tissue or stimulate significant biological changes required for these effects.
- Temporary effects (if any)
Even if you see minor results, such as less puffiness, better posture, and reduced tension in the jaw, these are likely to be short-term and subtle. Visible changes often fade quickly once you remove the ear seeds or the ear is no longer stimulated.
What to try instead: Non-surgical skin lifting and tightening treatments
At Cutis, we have several aesthetic treatments that can lift and tighten facial skin without going under the knife. These include:
- Ultherapy PRIME – is a US FDA-cleared treatment designed to lift and tighten the skin. It works by delivering focused ultrasound energy to the skin’s deeper layers, stimulating the body’s natural collagen production. The result is naturally looking firmer, more youthful skin.
Ultherapy is particularly effective for lifting and tightening sagging skin on the neck, chin, brow, and décolletage. Results appear gradually over 2 to 3 months and can last up to a year or more.
- Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling – combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy. It uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, while RF energy heats the deeper layers to further boost collagen production and promote skin tightening.
This treatment is ideal for improving skin texture, tightening the skin, and addressing surface-level concerns. It can be combined with erbium glass laser for subdermal skin resurfacing that can renew the skin and stimulate collagen faster.
- Botulinum toxin – is a neurotoxin mainly used for softening the appearance of dynamic wrinkles caused by repeated facial movements (frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet). It can also be used for jawline slimming or lower face contouring, by targeting the masseter muscles (used for chewing and clenching).
This temporarily weakens the muscle, which slim the jawline and relieves TMJ and bruxism symptoms. The effects are temporary, typically lasting a few months before retreatment is needed.
- Dermal fillers – are injectable gels used to add or restore volume. They work by filling in wrinkles, folds, and hollow areas beneath the skin. Fillers are commonly used on the cheeks, lips, jawline, and around the mouth to enhance facial contours and improve static wrinkles.
Results are usually immediate and can last from several months to over a year, depending on the type of filler used. The right type of filler depends on your desired outcome. Thicker ones create more structure or offer more volume restoration, while other types provide different benefits.
For further reading:Worried About Dermal Fillers? We Address 8 Common Fears
- Combination treatments can offer comprehensive results by addressing multiple signs of aging at once. Ultherapy PRIME, for instance, can be used to lift and tighten the jawline, botulinum toxin can soften forehead wrinkles, and dermal fillers can restore volume to the cheeks.
This approach often leads to more balanced, natural-looking outcomes. It is, however, important to consult with a qualified professional to develop a treatment plan that suits your needs and goals.
Get in touch with us
If you’re looking for real, noticeable facial contouring results, you’ll need treatments that actually target the underlying structures of the face. A consultation with a professional can help you explore options that are not only effective but also safe and backed by clinical evidence.
Ready to take the next step? WhatsApp us today at +65 9780 2079 to schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors in Singapore.
To share, click on the Icon.